Eldoret International Airport

{{Infobox airport

| name = Eldoret International Airport

| nativename =

| nativename-a =

| nativename-r =

| image = Main lounge at Eldoret International Airport.jpg

| image-width = 250

| caption =

| IATA = EDL

| ICAO = HKEL

| pushpin_map = Kenya

| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Eldoret Airport in Kenya
Placement on map is approximate

| pushpin_label = EDL

| pushpin_label_position = bottom

| type = Public, Civilian

| owner = Kenya Airports Authority

| operator =

| city-served = Eldoret

| location = Eldoret, Kenya

| elevation-f = 7,050

| elevation-m = 2,150

| coordinates = {{Coord|00|24|16|N|35|14|20|E|type:airport_region:KE}}

| website =

| metric-elev =

| metric-rwy =

| r1-number = 08/26

| r1-length-f = 11,400

| r1-length-m = 3,475

| r1-surface = Asphalt

| stat-year = 2013

| stat1-header = Passenger numbers

| stat1-data = 111,250{{cite web |url=http://sadimsolutions.com/airports/kenyan-airport-passenger-traffic-decline-by-5-2013/ |title=Sadimsolutions.com » Kenyan airports passenger traffic declines by 5% 2013 |access-date=21 December 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222123959/http://sadimsolutions.com/airports/kenyan-airport-passenger-traffic-decline-by-5-2013/ |archive-date=22 December 2015 }}

| stat2-header =

| stat2-data =

| footnotes =

}}

Eldoret International Airport is located in Uasin Gishu County, near Eldoret city in western Kenya. It serves as both a domestic and international airport, supporting passenger flights and significant cargo operations, especially for agricultural exports. The airport features a long paved runway and a modern terminal, and is one of Kenya's designated international ports of entry. Its strategic location makes it important for regional connectivity and economic activity in the Rift Valley.

Location

File:Sign to Eldoret International Airport Along the Eldoret-Kisumu Road.jpg

Eldoret Airport, {{Airport codes|EDL|HKEL}}, is located in the city of Eldoret, in Uasin Gishu County, in midwestern Kenya, close to the international border with Uganda. Its location is approximately {{convert|17|km|mi}}, by road, south of the central business district of Eldoret in Kapseret Ward.{{Cite web|url=http://distancecalculator.globefeed.com/Kenya_Distance_Result.asp?fromplace=Eldoret%20()%20(Airport)&toplace=Eldoret%20(Rift%20Valley)&fromlat=0.404458&tolat=0.5166667&fromlng=35.238928&tolng=35.2833333|title=Distance between Eldoret () (Airport) and Eldoret (Rift Valley) (Kenya)|website=distancecalculator.globefeed.com|language=en-US|access-date=21 August 2018}} This location lies approximately {{convert|269|km|mi}}, by air, northwest of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, the largest civilian and military airport in the country.{{Cite web|url=http://distancecalculator.globefeed.com/Kenya_Distance_Result.asp?fromplace=Jomo%20Kenyatta%20Airport%20Nairobi%20(Nairobi%20Area)&toplace=Eldoret%20()%20(Airport)&fromlat=-1.3166667&tolat=0.404458&fromlng=36.9333333&tolng=35.238928|title=Distance between Jomo Kenyatta Airport Nairobi (Nairobi Area) and Eldoret () (Airport) (Kenya)|website=distancecalculator.globefeed.com|language=en-US|access-date=21 August 2018}}

Overview

Eldoret International Airport is a large airport that serves the city of Eldoret and the surrounding communities. Situated at {{convert|2150|m|ft}} above sea level,{{Cite web|url=http://www.theairdb.com/airport/EDL.html|title=Welcome theairdb.com - Hostmonster.com|website=www.theairdb.com|access-date=21 August 2018}} the airport has a single asphalt runway that measures {{convert|3475|m|ft}} in length.{{Cite web|url=http://www.aircraft-charter-world.com/airports/africa/kenya.htm|title=Airports in Kenya|website=www.aircraft-charter-world.com|access-date=21 August 2018|archive-date=28 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528162730/http://www.aircraft-charter-world.com/airports/africa/kenya.htm|url-status=dead}} The airport has immigration and customs facilities and is open for international operations daily from 06:00 to 18:30 local time. Operations can be extended apon request.{{cite web|url=https://immigration.go.ke/ports-of-entry-and-exit-poes/#:~:text=Airports%3A%209%20airports%20(Jomo%20Kenyatta,Malindi%20Airport%20and%20Isiolo%20Airport. | title= Port Of Entry Kenya | first=Eldoret | last= Kenya | location=Eldoret | date=5 July 2012 | accessdate=24 June 2025}}

History

The airport was established in 1995.[http://www.kenyaairports.com/eldoret/indexEld.htm Eldoret Airport Founded In 1953] It is administered by the Kenya Airports Authority. Currently, the airport has two scheduled International cargo flights and several ad hoc freighters per week. The airport is open from Monday to Sunday from 03.30 hours to 17.30 hours GMT, but the hours can be extended on request.{{Cite web |title=Eldoret International Airport > Kenya Airports Authority |url=https://www.kaa.go.ke/airports/our-airports/eldoret-international-airport/ |access-date=2023-06-08 |website=Kenya Airports Authority |language=en-GB}} Currently, the airport has three scheduled international cargo flights and several ad hoc freighters per [https://www.kaa.go.ke/airports/our-airports/eldoret-international-airport/ week].

Eldoret International Airport was built with the vision of achieving accelerated economic growth, through integration and opening up of the Western region to local and international markets. The airport is also expected to promote the exploitation of the rich tourism circuit of Western Kenya, which is largely unexploited.{{Cite web|title=Eldoret International Airport > Kenya Airports Authority|url=https://www.kaa.go.ke/airports/our-airports/eldoret-international-airport/|access-date=2020-07-02|website=Kenya Airports Authority|language=en-GB}}

File:Two planes on the runway of Eldoret International Airport..jpg

Airlines and destinations

=Passenger=

{{Airport-dest-list

|Jambojet | Mombasa, Nairobi–Jomo Kenyatta

|Kenya Airways | Nairobi–Jomo Kenyatta{{cite web |title=Kenya Airways NS24 African Destinations Service Resumption |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240308-kqns24af |website=Aeroroutes |access-date=8 March 2024}}

|Skyward Express | Lodwar, Nairobi–Wilson

}}

=Cargo=

{{Airport-dest-list

|Astral Aviation|Nairobi–Jomo Kenyatta, Sharjah{{cite press release|title=KENYAN CARGO AIRLINE, ASTRAL AVIATION, BEGINS FLIGHTS TO SHARJAH|url=https://astral-aviation.com/kenyan-cargo-airline-astral-aviation-begins-flights-to-sharjah/|work=Astral Aviation|date=1 March 2021|access-date=2 August 2023|language=en}}{{cite news|url=https://www.logupdateafrica.com/astral-aviation-begins-sharjah-to-eldoret-service|title=Astral Aviation begins Sharjah to Eldoret service|work=Logistics Update Africa|date=17 March 2021|access-date=2 August 2023|language=en}}

| Kenya Airways Cargo |Sharjah{{cite press release|title=KENYAN CARGO AIRLINE, ASTRAL AVIATION, BEGINS FLIGHTS TO SHARJAH|url=https://astral-aviation.com/kenyan-cargo-airline-astral-aviation-begins-flights-to-sharjah/|work=Astral Aviation|date=1 March 2021|access-date=2 August 2023|language=en}}{{cite news|url=https://www.logupdateafrica.com/astral-aviation-begins-sharjah-to-eldoret-service|title=Astral Aviation begins Sharjah to Eldoret service|work=Logistics Update Africa|date=17 March 2021|access-date=2 August 2023|language=en}}

| Ethiopian Airlines |Nairobi–Jomo Kenyatta, Sharjah||

}}